Queensland delays senior school, OP shake-up

Year 12 students will receive an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR), replacing the OP and bringing Queensland into line with other states and territories

Senior subject results will be based on a student's achievement in four pieces of assessment - three school-based and one external assessment

For most senior subjects external assessment will contribute 25 percent towards a student's final result

Mathematics and science subjects will contribute 50 percent

80 senior syllabuses will be reviewed in preparation for external assessment

An English subject will be compulsory for students to receive their Queensland Certificate of Education

A QCE will be based on five board subjects or four board subjects and one Vocational Education and Training subject

THE Queensland government will delay what it describes as the biggest shake-up in senior schooling in 40 years.

Changes to senior assessment and tertiary entrance will now begin with Year 11 students in 2019.

Education Minister Kate Jones today said current year 8 students would be the first to experience the new system.

Ms Jones said she had received advice from the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) that they would require an extra 12 months to deliver the changes.

"Following the advice from QCAA I consulted with all major education stakeholders across sectors, principals associations and parents. All stakeholders supported the QCAA advice," she said.

"When we roll out the new system in 2019, I want to get it right and ensure it remains strong for many years to come.

"I want what is best for Queensland students so I will take the advice of our key education stakeholders and won't risk rushing this reform process.

"We will deliver a world class curriculum and learning and assessment system for teachers, students, parents and the wider community."

Ms Jones said the new system would bring Queensland into line with the rest of Australia.

"Today I can also confirm the Queensland ATAR will recognise a broader range of learning than the OP system," she said.

"It will be calculated from a student's best five subject results which may include one Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification or Subject Area Syllabus (SAS) subject.

"Already more than 20,000 students and hundreds of schools have trialled external assessments and we have received 3000 submissions from educators providing feedback on early drafts of redeveloped syllabuses.

"The Senior Secondary Assessment Taskforce has laid the ground work for change and further contributions by teachers, students and academics will help to shape the finer details of the system.

"The taskforce unanimously recommended to government the new system begin in 2019."

QCAA chief executive officer Chris Rider said more time was required to prepare for the new system.

"Although there has been significant progress, some transition activities will require more time to complete than originally planned," Mr Rider said.

"In particular, this means the redevelopment of the full suite of senior subject syllabuses and delivery nearly 700 professional development workshops to about 17,000 teachers.

"It will also allow QCAA to analyse the findings of assessment trials and consult further with our education partners."

Queensland Catholic Education Commission Executive Director Leanne Perry said it was important not to rush the new syllabus development.

"We are working towards a generational change in senior assessment and it's vital for students and teachers that we ensure they've got the best possible system to work with," Ms Perry said.

"We've had significant feedback from teachers on the development of new syllabuses and we will now have time to respond to that feedback more fully so we get the best outcome."

"While independent schools were fully engaged and already well advanced in preparing for the senior schooling reforms, the additional year will ensure they have more time to plan and prepare staff and students for the changes," he said.

Queensland Secondary Principals Association representative Mark Breckenridge said principals were supportive of a 2019 start.
"There is much to do to prepare for the change and we cannot afford to rush the process," Mr Breckenridge said.